Namely that, one, Boise is a tremendous place to move to, start a business, etc. And, second, that businesses need to be subsidized through things like tax increment financing if we are ever to get the sort of development we want.

Those two concepts cannot simultaneously be true.

If Boise is such a great place to be, businesses should not have to be subsidized to move here. In fact, they should be willing to pay extra for the opportunity. Conversely, if we are convinced that we have to subsidize them to move and invest here, it must be because our leaders feel there is something inherently less desirable about the Boise Market.

What about the revenue stream produced by west downtown properties that funds city services just about everywhere else EXCEPT west downtown?

For example,

ACHD: East Parkcenter Bridge, Maple Grove widening, Ustick widening, all done before the 30th extension which was first proposed 40 years ago.

Boise City: It’s likely the Marianne Williams Park at Harris Ranch will be developed before the Esther Simplot Park.

This all goes back to the Broadway/Chinden connector which put the nail in Fairview/Main coffin. Ideally, since this was an ITD job, the State of Idaho should cough up some money for redevelopment of west downtown.

Since that will never happen, a new URD is the only way to go. If it means sunsetting the central downtown URD, then I could agree to that.

“Boise’s urban renewal agency took a first step toward publicly supported revitalization of the city’s 30th Street neighborhood, which spans west of downtown from State Street to the Boise River, by declaring it eligible for urban renewal at a meeting last week.

The Boise City Council plans to decide next month whether or not it will agree with the Capital City Development Corp.’s decision and to initiate planning to create an urban renewal district, which would allow CCDC to pay for infrastructure improvements and help finance development in the district with the tax revenues generated by rising property values.”

The full article is available @ http://www.idahobusinessreview.com/archive.htm/2008/09/15/CCDC-opens-door-to-30th-Street-plan

EDITOR NOTE– CCDC has not yet expanded, but Team Dave is eager to get the rest of the Valley off the revenue stream that funds city services.

The fact remains, however, the Fairview/Main Corridor is an embarrassment. It’s a run-down eyesore. It is not bringing in the tax revenue it should and could.

It is necessary and good in the long run, that block sized parcels of land in the Fairview/Main Corridor be reassembled from the small and virtually useless parcels that exist today.

For just once, could we look past the end of our noses and try some long term planning?

Legal technicalities aside, I don’t see how we have lost anything in this deal. And yes, I read thru Ada Property records. All 3 of the involved properties are very difficult to value. They all have to be done via the income method, and what income are they currently bringing in? A big goose egg!

EDITOR NOTE–This isn’t just a legal “technicality.” It is about honest open government and not insider trades conducted in secret meetings (executive session). NO one was made aware of the terms of the deal and there was no public discussion. The deal would never have been consummated if REAL money were demanded. This is far from a “free market” transaction.